Colleen L. Parker

Colleen Parker was born in Springville, Utah in 1927. She is a painter in oil and acrylics, a printmaker, and a pastellist. Perhaps her most well known work is pastel over monotype, a unique approach she has developed. She lives in Bountiful, Utah.

Colleen Parker began her art education while growing up in Springville, the “Art City” of Utah, where she was exposed to some of the finest contemporary American art which became a part of the annual art exhibition at the Springville Museum of Art. Formal training was at Brigham Young University, Iowa State University, and the Chicago Art Institute.

Parker's work has been widely exhibited locally ad across the country, garnering awards in juried regional, national and international exhibitions. Much of her work has become a part of private and corporate collections in this country as well as England and South America. She is represented in the permanent collections of Brigham Young University and the Springville Museum of Art.

Biography adapted from Artists of Utah and material supplied by the artist.

As an artist, Colleen Parker describes herself as a “perpetual explorer”. Not only is she interested in exploring the designs and patterns in nature, but also in pushing her artistic experiments to the limit, always seeking new forms of expression. Her working in a variety of media, often with an unusual approach, brings excitement and spontaneity to her art. Parker works in both miniature and large formats, incorporating drawing, printmaking, collage and painting, either singly or in various combinations. Perhaps her most well known work is pastel over monotype, a unique approach she has developed which combines abstract and representational art. She was featured in the July, 1988 issue of The Artist's Magazine where this technique was discussed.

Colleen Parker began her art education while growing up in Springville, the “Art City” of Utah, where she was exposed to some of the finest contemporary American art which became a part of the annual art exhibition at the Springville Museum of Art. Formal training was at Brigham Young University, Iowa State University, Chicago Art Institute and various workshops with such artists as Albert Handel and Daniel Greene, noted pastelists. Working independently with various experimental techniques, however, has been the major contributor to her development as an artist.

Parker's work has been widely exhibited locally ad across the country, garnering awards in juried regional, national and international exhibitions. Much of her work has become a part of private and corporate collections in this country as well as England and South America. She is represented in the permanent collections of Brigham Young University and the Springville Museum of Art.

In 1991 the artist was elected a Signature Member of Miniature Artists of America. This election was in response to the high quality of the artist's work as well as the recognition it has received over a period of years in the international shows sponsored by this country's major miniature art societies.

For the past several years, Colleen Parker has been working from her studio at 163 South Main Street, Bountiful, Utah. In 2001, space became available in this same Historic Main Street building and, after contacting several other artists, it was decided that an Artists' Cooperative Gallery be created on the site. The Lamplight Art Gallery is currently in its fourth year of operation (as of 2005), with 12 local artists participating. Five other artists have occupied additional studios in the building and various art classes are being taught on a regular basis. The Lamplight Art Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Colleen Parker

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

“Growth as an artist is a continual process. Everything I have encountered up to this point in my life has had a definite influence upon who I am as an artist. All that I presently experience in my day to day work on location or in my studio, becomes a part of this constant process of learning and growing.

When not working with a brush or pencil or pastel in my hand, I am observing my surroundings. While walking or driving through the countryside I am often composing, designing, taking mental notes and storing them for future reference. Much of my work is done as I draw from this information and render scenes I have remembered and felt.

Exploration of new dimensions has increased my range or expression as an artist and has kept me in a constant pattern of growing, searching, learning and enjoying! A great part of this enjoyment also comes from sharing with others, both children and adults, the excitement of exploration and learning to draw on the creativity which is in each one of us. Regularly teaching in the classroom at the Lamplight Art Gallery in Bountiful and occasionally presenting workshops at the Bountiful Davis Art Center and to various art groups throughout the area, I am experiencing an increase in my own growth and development as an artist as I continue to discover new and exciting ways to express myself through my art.“